Scorecard:

South Africa: 139 for 7 (20 overs)

(Kallis 34 off 33 balls, Smith 27 off 14 balls, Duminy 25 off 21 balls, Morkel 23 off 17 balls, Hamid Hassan 3 for 21)

Afghanistan: 80 all out (16 overs)

(Ashraf 21 off 25 balls, Hassan 22 off 21 balls, Kleinveldt 2 for 48)

South Africa were tentative in their approach and were able to put a barely defensible total after many fits and starts. Their stars of the previous match again took charge and gave them a good start. However, the 3rd wicket partnership slowed down without a reason. Now this is something that has been South Africa’s bane. South Africa freezes sometimes when they are ahead. I hope this has nothing to do with a certain “Cronje Effect” that can cramp muscles inexplicably or create sudden feeling of exhaustion which goes away only when defeat is certain. However, in this case the opponent was not one who could capitalize on this. Afghanistan were too overawed by the reputation of South Africans and were only too happy to lose and get their bats autographed by the famous Kallis. Now, if you win the match you certainly lose the autograph!

Cronje Effect: (also known as the Zulu Freeze)

It can cramp muscles inexplicably or create sudden feeling of exhaustion when you’re clearly on the winning path. This feeling goes away as mysteriously but only when defeat is imminent.